Floribunda rose plant named `Flower Carpet Red`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Floribunda rose plant is provided which forms continuously throughout the season attractive long-lasting light to medium red blossoms. The blossoms open on a reliable basis and well retain their attractiveness upon aging. The new variety exhibits a low, upright, and dense growth habit that renders it well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in the landscape. The foliage is dark green and glossy and contrasts well with the light to medium red blossoms. The new variety propagates well from cuttings, by the budding of an eye, and by grafting. Excellent resistance to blackspot, mildew, and rust are exhibited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Floribunda rose plant of the present invention wascreated by artificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed whichpreviously had been studied in the hope that they would contribute thedesired characteristics. Such breeding program was carried out aGutersloh, Germany during 1986. The female parent (i.e., the seedparent) was the product of the cross of the `Irish Wonder` variety (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 2,424) and the `Paprika` variety (non-patented in theUnited States). The `Irish Wonder` variety sometimes is known as the`Evelyn Fison` variety, and the `Paprika` variety sometimes is known asthe `Tanprik` variety. The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the`Flower Carpet` variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,282). The `Flower Carpet`variety sometimes is known as the `Noatraum` variety and is marketedunder the Heidetraum trademark in Germany. The parentage of the newvariety can be summarized as follows:

    (`Irish Wonder`×`Paprika`)×`Flower Carpet`.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which physically and biologically differ from eachother. Selective study resulted in the identification of a single plantof the new variety.

It is found that the new Floribunda rose plant possesses the followingcombination of characteristics:

(a) forms continuously throughout the season attractive light to mediumred, medium-sized long-lasting blossoms which tend to open on a reliablebasis and to retain their attractiveness upon aging,

(b) exhibits an upright, dense and bushy growth habit,

(c) forms attractive dark green and glossy foliage that contrasts wellwith the light to medium red blossoms,

(d) exhibits excellent disease resistance with respect to blackspot,mildew, and rust, and

(e) is particularly suited for growing as attractive ornamentation inthe landscape.

The new variety meets the needs of the horticultural industry and can begrown to advantage as decorative ornamentation in parks, gardens, publicareas, and residential landscapes.

The new variety of the present invention has been found to readilyundergo asexual reproduction in Germany by the use of cuttings, by thebudding of an eye, and by grafting. Such asexual reproduction asperformed in Germany has shown that the characteristics of the newvariety are homogeneous and stable and are strictly transmissible fromone generation to another.

The new variety has been named the `Flower Carpet Red` variety. The newvariety also is known as the `Noafeuer` variety in Europe and is beingmarketed under the Heidefeuer trademark in Europe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character, atypical specimen of the new variety while growing in the landscape. Theillustrated Floribunda rose plant was three years of age and wasobserved during June, 1994 while growing outdoors on Rosa laxaunderstock at Gutersloh, Germany. A profusion of blossoms and thefoliage of the new variety are visible wherein the buds and blossoms areshown in various stages of opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart) of London, England. Colorterminology in common terms sometimes is included as an aid to thereader. The description is based on the observation of three year-oldspecimens of the new variety while growing outdoors on Rosa laxaunderstock during July at Gutersloh, Germany.

Class: Floribunda.

Parentage:

Female.--The cross of the `Irish Wondor` variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No.2,424) and the `Paprika` variety (non-patented in the United States).

Male.--The `Flower Carpet` variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,282).

Plant:

Height.--Approximately 50 to 60 cm. on average at the end of the growingseason.

Form.--Vigorous, low, upright, dense, compact and bushy. The growthhabit generally corresponds to that of an ideal Floribunda.

Branches:

Color.--Young stems: green with a smooth surface. Adult wood: mediumgreen, Green Group 137C, with a smooth surface.

Thorns.--Size: medium, approximately 5 mm. in length on average, andslightly curved downward. Frequency: irregular. Over a length of 10 cm.approximately 6 thorns commonly are present. Color: initially lightbrown changing to dark brown, Greyed-Red Group 182A, with maturity.

Leaves:

Stipules.--Color: light green.

Leaflets.--Number: commonly 5. Quantity: very abundant. Size: commonlyapproximately 4 cm. in length and approximately 3 cm. in width.Serration: regular. Color (young foliage): Upper surface: reddish. Undersurface: slightly lighter than upper surface. Color (adult foliage):Upper surface: dark green, Green Group 135B. Under surface: lighter thanupper surface, Green Group 135C. General appearance: dense, dark green,and glossy on upper surface, and matte appearance on under surface.Configuration: long and pointed. Texture: leathery. Petioles: GreenGroup 138A in coloration. Stipules: Green Group 138A to 138B incoloration.

Inflorescence:

Number of flowers.--Numerous and commonly sprays. A two year-old plantcommonly will form approximately 50 blossoms that are borne inapproximately 3 to 4 sprays.

Peduncle.--Smooth, commonly without prickles, and commonly green onyounger growth and red on older growth, and approximately 3 cm. inlength on average.

Sepals.--Commonly extend beyond the bud up to approximately 2 cm. andare pointed, and commonly are Green Group 138A to 138B in coloration.

Buds.--Shape: generally pointed as shown in the photograph. Size:commonly are approximately 3.5 cm. in length. Color when opening: as thesepals divide pure red, Red Group 50A.

Flower.--Form: initially cup-shaped with flattening upon maturity.Diameter: approximately 5 cm. on average when fully expanded, and bornein sprays. Color (when opening begins): Upper surface: pure red, RedGroup 50A. Under surface: slightly lighter than upper surface, Red Group51A. Color (when blooming): Red Group 52A to 52C with the exception thata yellow area, Yellow Group 13A to 13B, adjacent the point of petalattachment may become visible. The yellow coloration of pollen andreproductive organs also commonly is exposed as the petals open morefully. When visible, this contrasts attractively with the pure redcoloration of the petals. Color (at end of opening): the colorationlightens somewhat to near Red-Purple Group 57A immediately prior topetal drop. Fragrance: none. Lasting quality: long, approximately 4 to 5days for a single bloom on the plant, and approximately 3 days when cutand placed in a vase. A spray commonly will last up to approximately 4weeks. The lives of the blossoms vary somewhat with the month of theyear and the environmental conditions that are encountered. Petal form:the edges tend to be relatively straight and substantially even, theshape is elliptical, and the blossom center initially is well covered bythe petals. Petaloids: commonly none. Petal number: approximately 25 onaverage. Petal appearance: satiny on both surfaces. Petal arrangement:generally arranged in a regular pattern with overlapping edges. Petaltexture: average. Petal drop: good with a clean disengagement of thepetals upon full maturity. Stamens: somewhat regularly arranged aroundthe styles, Yellow Group 12A in coloration. Filaments: nearlytransparent in appearance. Pollen: yellow in coloration. Stigmas: creamyellow in coloration. Styles: thin, bunched, and tend to be ofsubstantially the same length. Hips: oval, medium in size, and red-brownin coloration.

Development:

Vegetation.--Vigorous and abundant.

Blooming.--Abundant and substantially continuous throughout the season.

Winter hardiness.--Good, when reproduced by the budding of an eye thenew variety has withstood a winter temperature of -20° C.

Resistance to diseases.--Excellent with respect to blackspot, mildew,and rust.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Floribunda rose plantcharacterized by the following combination of characteristics:(a) formscontinuously throughout the season attractive light to medium red,medium-sized, long-lasting blossoms which tend to open on a reliablebasis and to retain their attractiveness upon aging, (b) exhibits anupright, dense, and bushy growth habit, (c) forms attractive dark greenand glossy foliage that contrasts well with the light to medium redblossoms, (d) exhibits excellent disease resistance with respect toblackspot, mildew, and rust, and (e) is particularly suited for growingas attractive ornamentation in the landscape;substantially as hereinshown and described.